In recent days, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs resumed the bidding process for the supply and personalization of passports, a contract that has a budget of close to 600 billion pesos.
The process had been temporarily suspended due to different complaints that pointed out that the conditions were in place to favor the current contractor (Thomas Greg & Sons) and due to the alleged lobbying of two Spaniards in favor of a European multinational.*100006 *
(More context: The Foreign Ministry will resume the bidding process to issue passports)
Once the bidding resumed, on July 12, the hearing was brought forward in which the proposals of the interested parties would be received and, in addition, some samples of the product that had been requested in the specifications.
Although it was known that Hungarian, German and Portuguese companies, among others, were interested in the contract, only two bidders appeared.
The companies are: the Unión Temporal Libretas 2023, which is made up of the firms Cadena S.A., Cadena Courrier S.A.S. and the Imprensa Nacional-Casa Da Moeda S.A. And the other, the Unión Temporal Pasaportes 2023, made up of Thomas Greg & Sons de Colombia S.A., Thomas Greg Express, Seguridad Móvil de Colombia, Tomas Greg & Sons Limited (Guernsey) S.A., Thales Colombia S.A. and Thales DIS Finland Oy.
In the case of the latter, * 100016* The representative of the UT Libretas 2023 refused to deliver the samples and left a record in which he assures that the Foreign Ministry has not adjusted the specifications.
(Read more: Mincomercio unleashes controversy over the export of paramilitary services)
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